Process for pumping



My 1947. w. w. HECKERT 2,424,751

raocass Fox rumrnm Filed manual, 1942] 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Winfield, W Beckett INVENTYOR July 1947- w. w. HECKERT I 2,424,751

PROCESS FOR PUMPING Filed March 21, 1942 4 She ets-Sheet 2 Winfield V ckert INVENTOR t 9, 1947. w. w. HECKERT ?,424,751

raocass FOR ruurma Filed March 21, 1942 4 sheets-sheet flHCkGttmvamon y 2 1947. w. w. HECKERT I 2,

PROCESS FQR PUMPING Filed March 21, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wl nftld W. He cker't E E PROCESS FOR i a This invention relates to an improved method for metering bubble-free liquid taken from a supply of said liquid containing bubbles. More particularly, it relates to an improved method and apparatus for dissolving and displacing the bubbles of a bubble-containing liquid with a quantity of like liquid free from bubbles and metering the resultant bubble-free liquid. This invention has particular utility in metering a molten filament-forming composition which is subject to continuous decomposition with formationof gaseous decomposition products,v for example, a synthetic linear polymer of the type disclosed in Carothers U. S. Patent No. 2,071,250.

This is a continuation-in-part application of LYTIZ'ING Winfield Walter Heckert, Wilmington, net, as-

signor to E. I. do lont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, Del, a corporation oi Delaware Application March 21, 1942, Serial No. casino '7 Claims. ,(Cl. ZQiE- l) position and then this bubble-free melt is metcred, while being maintained under pressure, to an extrusion device such as a spinneret. This can be accomplished, for example, by the use of two pumps connected in series, the first subjecting the 111m or filament-forming composition to pressure and delivering the bubble-fre composition so produced to a second pump, which meters the bubble-=free composition to a suitable extrusion device.

It is an object or the present invention to pro- 'vide an improved method'and apparatus for dismy copending application Serial No. 345,119, filed July 12, 1940.

Throughout the present specification and in the filament-forming liquid by pressure placed thereon. Since, however, the. bubbles are always non-uniformly distributed in a bubble-containing liquid, the commonly used precision gear pump,

which merely compresses the bubbles from the liquid and forwards the resultant liquid, will necessarily forward the resultant bubble-free liquid at a variable, inconstant rate depending upon the variation in bubble content of successive portions of the liquid being placed under pressure and forwarded. Clearly, therefore, under suchcircumstances the commonly used precision ear pump is. incapable of metering the bubble-free liquid. 7 p I In the copending application of George De- Witt Graves, Serial No. 232,314, filed September 29, 1938, now Patent 2,278,875, dated April '1,

and metering, i. e., forwarding at a substantially constant rate, the resultant bubble-free liquid.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The objects of the invention may be accomplished, in general, by continuously forwarding, at a constant rate, a liquid containing bubbles, continuously forcing, at a constant rate, into said bubble-containing liquid, as it is being forward-v ed, a liquid or like composition but free from bubbles, the volume of said bubble-free liquid being at least equal to the volume of the bubbles in said bubble-containing liquid, and continuing the forwarding oi the liquid, at a constant rate,

able ror carrying out the objects and purposes of v the invention.

in the drawings: 7 Figure l is a cross-section on the plane of the axes of the scars of a gear pump constructed 1942', there is disclosed a method of producing 1 continuous structures, such as filaments, yarns, ribbons, and the like of very uniform denier or gauge, from compositions subject to bubble formation, by a process wherein the filmor filamerit-forming composition is subjected to sumcient pressure to dissolve the bubbles in the comin accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an *elevational view of the inside race or one side plate of the gear pump shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is an elevational view ofthe center plate and gears'oi the pump shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an. elevational view or the inside face of the other side plate of the pump shown in Figure l.

Figure 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic elevational view of a section of the gears projected on a section of the side plate shown in Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line tr-t of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 'l1 of Figure 4.

Figuresisanelevationalviewoitheinside face of a modified form of side plate.

Figure 9 is a greatly enlarged tic elevational view illustrating-the critical spacing between meshing gear teeth and the possible occasional connecting opening between the pressure passage with the outlet opening of the pump.

Figure 10 is a greatly enlarged diagrammatic elevational view showing a preferred construction in which the pressure passage is maintained closed to the outlet opening. I

Figure 11 is a' r i tic elevational view. with parts shown in section, of a modified form of apparatus suitable for use in carrying out the principles of the present invention.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a modified form of side plate for use in the apparatus shown in Figure 11. A

ReferringtoFigureslto'l ofthedrawings, reference numeral ll designates the rear side plate of the gear pump and numerals i3 and II designate respectively the center plate and front side plate. The three plates are held together by means of suitable bolts or screws (not shown). A.

pair'of meshing gears i1 and it are operatively positioned within the center plate l3 and between sideplates ii and II; The gears l1 and it are mounted respectively on drive shafts 2| and 23. The gear drive shafts 2i and 23 are journaled in the side plates ii and it, the shaft 2| being positioned in openings "and 31a of the respective rear and front plates, and shaft 23 being. positioned in openings 33 and 39a respectively of said rear and front plates.

The rear side plate ll, isprovided withan inlet opening 33 and an outlet opening 35 for the liquid. Plate II is furthermore provided with ancuate grooves 25and 29,as well as connecting grooves 21 and 3|, the latter grooves respectively connecting arcuate grooves 23 and 29 with depressions 26 and 23 which are positioned adjacent the points of intermeshing of the teeth of the gears l1 and it, (see Figure 5). The several grooves are positioned on the inside face of the plate as is clearly shown in Figure l. The arcuate grooves 25 and 29 are concentric with the shafts 2| and 23 and are positioned to overlie a number of gear teeth between the inlet "and the outlet 35. A small groove ll, connecting with the inlet opening 33, is also provided on the inside face of plate H (see Figures 2 undo). The purpose of this groove-4| is to bring grooves21 and II sufficiently close to inlet opening 33 to insure that leakage :between the side plate ii and the center plate; due to excess pressure on the liquid in grooves 21 and 3|;will flow to the inlet opening 33 rather than the outlet opening 35. If desired, fine grooves 42 and 44 may be positioned between groove 4i and the grooves 21 and 3! to permit definite leakage from the latter grooves to the inlet opening. Such grooves as 42 and it must,however.be of considerablysmaller capacity than the quantity of liquid entrapped between meshing gear teeth. The front side plate I! is provided, on the inside face thereof with arcuate grooves 254: and 23a and connecting grooves 214: and'lla which aremirror images of thegrooves in the rear side plate Ii. vided with a small circular depression 41 which is positioned adjacent the point where the gears lieve any vacuum created by the unmeshing gears.

The center plate i3 contains two circular openings II and 33 into which the gears l1 and I. fit

Plate. I5 is also pro rotation of the gears. 'lhe gears l1 and it are shown mounted on thelr respective shafts 2i and 33. These designed to be driven in the direction shown by thearrows. .The'enlarged re- 5 c ed spaces 43 and 43 connect with thepinlet 33 and outlet "respectively and serve as liquid conveying openingsfor the gears.

The mechanism whereby the filament-forming composition is entrapped between the gears, sub- 10 iected to pressure. and fed-into the grooves in the side plates is shown more clearly in Figure 5. The gears i1 and It at the point where the teeth engageand entrap the liquid overlie the depression; 23 and 23 at the ends of grooves 21 and 3i.

13 The tooth 13 of gear I. has Just reached a position relative to the teeth 12 and 1! of gear i1 where it has completely entrapped the filamentforming composition in the space 13 between the teeth 12 and I4 and-is beginning to subject it go to pressure. The depression 23 at the end of groove 3| in the rear side plate II is so located that the entrapped filament-forming composition is forced into the groove 3|. A similar action occurs simultaneously at the corresponding a depression "cat the end of the groove 31a in the front'side plate it (not shown). Simultaneously, the tooth 13, a shown. has just completed forcing the filament-forming composition. entrapped between'teeth II and 13, into the delo 'pression 23 at the end of groove 21. The tooth 12 is shown entering the space between teeth 3 and 13 and will force the entrapped composition into depression 25 and groove 21, and, of course, the oppositely disposed depression 26a and groove 33 21a of front, side plate, not shown in Figure 5.

As will later appear, the spacing between approaching teeth 83 and 12 at the point where the inter-dental space betweenteeth 68 and 10 first opens to the depression 23 is critical to the O successful operation of the pump. The composition forced into grooves 21 and 3i, and 21a and 3la will be forced into the respective arcuate grooves 23 and 29, and 25a and 23a, and thence into the spaces between the-gear teeth to which a the arcuate grooves are contiguous. The additional pressure'imparted to the composition being propelled from the inlet to the outlet opening will cause a dissolution of any bubbles which may be contained therein.

a It is usually preferred to so design the gear teeth that a somewhatlarger quanttiy of filament-forming composition is entrapped and fed through the grooves than is theoretically required, thus insuring that the teeth delivering I the bubble-free,- filament-forming composition are completely filled. This is especially desirable since the bubble content and the rate of bubble formation is inconstant and hence the bubble content of the filament-forming composition is Q non-uniform so that provision must be made to dissolve the maximum quantity of bubbles present at any time. For this'reason, provision must be made for the release of the excess quantity of this material. In general, it is preferred that u this be fedback to the inlet of the pump, especially if the quantity is non-uniform, since if fed to the outlet, it would defeat the purpose or uniform metering. This-release can be accomplished in a number of ways. In'some cases, the natural sli between the ear teeth and the cente l t are "1111188111118. Depression 31 functions to rea p g D e i3 will accomplish it'orthe clearance may be increased slightly' to increase the slip. Likewise, slip between the faces of the gears and side plates Ii and it will permit return of theexcess to the with a minimum of clearance yet permitting free 15 inlet. When this occurs, it is important to insure either by location of the inlet and outlet 1 ports relativeto the grooves and/or by supplementary grooves or recesses, that the resistance to slip between the grooves and the inlet port at their closest point is less than that between the grooves and the outlet port at their closest point..

It will be noted that in Figure 2 the inlet port 33 is located closer to the grooves 2! and ti than liduid caught by the meshing gear teeth from 1 the outlet port be maintained substantially conis the outlet port '35. The return of the excess grooves 21 and 3| to the inlet port and thereby facilitates escape of excess composition to the inlet port across-the face of the gears, between them and the plates II and/or I5. As above indicated, small passages, such as passages 52 and 4%, may be recessed in the plate giving direct communication between the grooves carrying filament-forming composition to the teeth and the inlet port,,the width and depth of the recessed passages being determined to maintain the desired pressure.

Although the length of the arcuate'grooves 25 and 29 is shown to be approximately 180 in the drawings, many modifications of this length are possible in the scope of the invention. The criteria for selection of the proper length are: The concentration of bubbles present in the composition under the conditions of extrusion, the viscosity of the composition extruded and the precision of meteringdesired. As will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art, one factor to be taken into account in determining the length of the grooves is the length of time the composition must be subjected to pressure to effect solution of the bubbles. A limit to the length of the grooves is imposed by the necessity of providing a sufiicie'nt distance between the end of a groove and the outlet port to prevent slip of the composition from the groove to the outlet.

- Such a slip would destroy the metering feature of the pump of this invention. Another limit to i the length of the grooves is the necessity for provision of an ungrooved or only slightly grooved space between the inlet port and the grooves .as has been indicated above in discus-- sion of release of excess composition from the grooves. It is preferred that the arcuate grooves be sufilciently long to overlie at least four gear teeth.

Many modifications of the shape of the grooves are possible. For example, in Figure 8 the connecting grooves 21 and SI are extended to join each other by the groove 34. Similarly, while the grooves have been shown in both the front and rear plates they may .be placed in only one plate if desired. Obviously, othermodifled constructions for return of excess-composition to the inlet opening can be devised. In Figure 8, recessions are shown at 36 in addition to that shown at M to facilitate this action.

As above indicated, the composition entrapped between gear teeth mustbe compressed with sufficient pressure and must be in sufficient volume to dissolve the bubbles and displace the bubble volume in the composition being forwarded .between the inlet and outlet openings of the pump.

Furthermore, in order that the pump meter at a stant and of greater volume than that of the bubbles contained in the forwarded bubble-containing composition. It is, therefore, preferred that the connecting grooves 21 and M (or the groove 84 as shown in Figure 8) are never open to the outlet port. therefore, never permitting baokfiow from the grooves to the outlet port. Nevertheless, in practice, a slight occasional opening between the be tolerated.

In Figure 9 is shown a permissible construction in which there will be a slight intermittent opening between the groove 34 and outlet opening 35. Referring specifically to the drawing, it will be noted that the inter-dental space H0, between teeth H2 and H4 has just opened to the groove 34, At this point in the rotation of the gears It and II, the distance 1: between the tooth Ht which is passing into the interdental space H0 and the next succeeding tooth'IM should not exceed .02 inch. If the distance :c" is greater than .02 inch, the gear pump will be unable to meter the'liquid due to excessive and non-uniform backflow of composition from the groove as to the outlet port. The above-said distance of .02 inch is, therefore, critical to the operativeness of the pump. The groove 34 is positioned on the outlet port side of the centerline of the gears to prevent any possibility of the slightest opening between the groove 84 and the inlet port of the pump.

Figure 10 illustrates a preferred construction in which the groove 34 will be maintained closed opposing teeth H2 and H8 are still maintaining the groove 34 closed to the outlet port 35.

Figures 11 and 12 show an entirely different modification of apparatus for practicing the ob- Jects of the invention, thus clearly showing that .the process of the invention is not a mere function of the apparatus shown in Figures 1 to 10. Referring to Figures 11 and 12, reference numeral I50 designates a melting chamber for melting a filament-forming composition such as a synthetic The molten composition...

linear polyamide. which contains bubbles is collected in hopper I52, from which it is led to the inlet. port of a gear pump I54. Gear pump I54, except for a modified form of side plate, is constructed similar to the gear pump described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. At least one of the side plates of the pump I54 is constructed as shown in Figure 12. This side plate is provided-with arcuate grooves I56 and E58 adjacent the teeth ofthe gears. The arcuate grooves I56 and I58, instead of being supplied by compressed composition entrapped by the meshing gear teeth, are supplied by a second pump I10 through side groove ports I60 and I62. A conduit I63 may, if desired, be connected to hopper I52 for passing nitrogen under pressure into the hopper to partially dissolve the hubbles in the composition. The conduit I12 connects the hopper I52 with the inlet port of pump I54. The composition passing from the outlet port of pump I54 is, in part, passed through the spinneret pack 'I80 to the filament-forming spingrooves and outlet port can 1 neret iii. A constant given of the composition passing from the outlet 9 11? ch pump "[15 passed to the inlet Port 01 asecondf gear pump ill. The gear pump "dis a ventional precision gear-pump, such asis cummonly used in the pumping of bubble-free coin.-v

-positlon.- The delivery of pump i'll mustbe sub- 1 stantially' constant but of much smaller amo imt. 7 than pump ill; The composition passing from the outlet port of pump ill is passed, by of conduit i'li 'tothe side groove ports I" "and it! of the side plateof pump I54. The delivery of pump I'll must be at least equal to, andispreferably slightly in excess of, the volume oi the bubbles of the composition passing between the,

The pump inlet and outlet ports of pump I54. Ill will pump only bubble-free composition since the bubbles in the composition passing between the inlet and outlet ports of pump I will-be dissolved and displaced by the composition passing into the side groove ports I" and iii. The

pump I will, therefore, meter, i. e., forward at a substantially constant rate, bubble-free composition to the spinneret. If desired, the bubbles can be partially dissolved in the composition be-.

fore it is passed into pump I54. This may be ac-i complished by passing nitrogen under the desired pressure into the hopper I52 through conduit I.

Inaccordance with the present invention, in order to dissolve the bubbles in a bubble-containing liquid and to forward the bubble-tree liquid at a constant rate, it is essential that a bubblefree liquid which is forced into the forwarded bubble-containing liquid have a volume at least equal to the total volume of the bubbles contained in the forwarded bubble containing liquid. Otherwise, the bubbles cannot be dissolved and displaced with bubble-free composition; The excess of the composition will, by slip, or by specific provision of leakage grooves, be passed to the inlet end'of the pump. of bubblesin the composition depends upon the type of pumping apparatus used. In an apparatus of the type shown in Figures 1 to 10, the composition should not have an average bubble content substantially exceeding 4%, since the quantity of composition entrapped by the meshing teeth is limited to about that amount. In the apparatus shown in Figure 11, however, the bubble content of the'bubble-containing composition may be of any value, limited only by the possibility of dissolving the bubbles in the composition by pressure, since in this apparatus the pump ilil may be made to deliver any volume necessary to dissolve and displace the bubbles.

liquid of slightly less than 4% bubble content:

' Outside diameter of gears, 0.9095 inch l 'clearance betweenteeth Clearance Thicknossof gears, 0.3932 inch Center to center of gears; 0. 9280-inch Number of teeth of gears, 26 I Diametral pitch, 28 dedendum; 32 addendum Number-of teeth communicating with arcuate pressure groove, 15f

and center plate, 0.00075 inch between gears and side plates, 0.0004

inch. Ari-apparatus constructed in-accordance with 11 is easily capable otdissoiving the hubbles and metering, ataconstant 'rate,,a bubblecontaining liquid of 8% bubble. content. This may be accomplished by driving pump I at 14 R. P. M. and the auxiliary pump llli at 1.68 R. P. K the dimensions-and clearances of the pumps being approximately the same as that given above.

Although the above-described pumping process and apparatus is especially adapted for the melt spinning of synthetic linear polyamides, it is obviously applicable to the melt spinning of any organic illament formingcomposition, which is The permissible volume Although the bubble-free liquid may be from A pump I nstructedin accordance with Figure 9 of the drawings and containing the following construction specifications will entrap approximately 4% of the meteredco mposition and forwardthe' same to the arcuate pressure groove for dissolution and displacement of bubbles. This pump will, therefore, dissolve the bubbles and subject tothe formation of bubbles, for any reason,under the conditions just prior to and during the spinning thereof provided the gases redissolve under pressure and the decomposition is slow enough to permit metering before suflicient gases are formed to exceed the solubility under the conditions of temperature and pressure. As examples of such filament-forming compositions in which bubble-formation may be present, the following may be mentioned: Synthetic linear polyamides. that is, synthetic linear polymers containing -CONH-- units in the linear chain; synthetic linear polymers such as polyesters, polyethers, polyacetals and mixed polyester-polyamides such as may be prepared by condensation reactions as described in U. S. Patent No. 2,071,- 250 mayalso present problems of bubble formation which can be remedied by the process of the present invention. Other types of synthetic polymers such as ethylene polymers, vinyl polymers, polystyrene and polyacrylic acid derivatives may also be spun with advantage, in accordance with the present invention.

The filament-forming material used in accordance with the present invention may contain modifying agents,e. g., luster-modifying agents, plasticizers, pigments and dyes, antioxidants, resins, etc. The present invention may also be used to advantage in extruding fllmor filamentforming compositions in which the bubble formation is caused by the presence of a modifying agent.

Although this invention, has been described with reference to the extrusion of film or filement-forming compositions, it is also applicable to the metering of bubble-free compositions in the spinning of bristles and the coating of wires, etc.

This invention may alsobe used to advantage in the spinning or extrusion of other types of filament-forming solutions, for example, cellulose xanthate or other cellulose derivative solutions, "when gas bubbles present a problem. Also, these solutions may be metered advantageously by this pump if they contain bubbles caused by the presence of modifying agents or from any other cause. The invention also iinds application in the pumping of liquids at or near their boiling points -so that liquid only is metered without the presence of gases. In this connection, the apparatus has utility as a dispensing device. This pump may also be used to meter liquids undergoing decomposition with the evolution of gases.

By the practice of this invention it is possible to produce structures of very uniform properties particularly yarns of very uniform denier from filament-forming compositions having a tendency to form bubbles during the extrusion thereof. This is accomplished by a simple inexpensive and compact apparatus, the maintenance of which is low and the power consumption small. The uses of this apparatus are particularly advantageous in the spinning of molten composition.

Gear pumps constructed according to this invention tend to show less wear in use than previously known gear pumps. This is due to the equalization of pressures of the liquid being metered over a large segment of the gear teeth and to the fact that in this pump pressure of the composition on both sid s of the gear arbors is balanced. a

Obviously, many changes and modifications can be made in the above-described structures without departing from the nature and spirit of the present invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific structures above-described except as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. The process of dissolving the bubbles in a bubble-containing liquid and metering said liquid in its bubble-free state which comprises continuously forwarding, at a substantially constant rate,

a liquid containing bubbles, continuously forcing,

at a substantially constant rate, into said bubblecontaining liquid, as it is being forwarded and without increasing the volume thereof, a liquid of like composition but free from bubbles, the

volume of said bubble-free liquid being at least tion of bubbles from a preceding portion of bubble-containing liquid. 9

3. The process which comprises pumping a bubble-containing liquid from the inlet to the outlet of a pump, continuously forcing into said bubble-containing liquid, as it is being oumped and without increasing the volume thereof, a liquid of like composition but free from bubbles,

the volume of said bubble-free liquid being at least equal to the volume of the bubbles in said bubble-containing liquid, whereby to dissolve said bubbles in said liquid and meter said bubble-free liquid.

' 10 4. The process which comprises pumping a bubble-containing liquid from the inlet to the outlet of a pump, passing a suflicient portion of said liquid from the outlet of said pump to the bubble-containing liquid passing between the inlet and outlet of said pump without increasing the volume of the liquid passing from the inlet to the outlet of the pump to dissolve and displace the bubbles contained in said bubble-containing liquid. 1 i

5. The process which comprises-pumping a bubble-containing liquid from the inlet to the outlet of a pump, pumping a sufficient portion of said liquid from the outlet of said pump to the bubble-containing liquid passing between the inlet and outlet of said pump without increasing the volume bf the liquid passing from the'inlet to the outlet of the pump to dissolve and displace the bubbles contained in said bubble-containing liquid.

6. Theprocess of dissolving the bubbles in a bubble-containing liquid and metering said liquid in its bubble-free state which comprises imparting a suilicient pressur .to a bubble-containing liquid to partially dissolve the bubbles contained therein, continuously forwarding, at asubstantially constant rate, said liquid containing par tially dissolved bubbles, continuously forcing, at a substantially constant rate, into said bubblecontaining liquid in which the bubbles have been partially dissolved, as it is being forwarded and without increasing the volume thereof, a liquid of like composition but free from bubbles, the volume of said bubble-free liquid being at least equal to the volume of the bubbles remaining in said bubble-containing liquid, whereby the remaining bubbles are dissolved in the liquid and said bubble-free liquid is metered.

7. The process as defined inclaim 6 in which the source of the bubble-free liquid which is forced into said bubble-containing liquid is the bubble-free liquid obtained by said final dissolution of bubbles from a preceding portion of bubhie-containing liquid. 1

WINFIELD WALTER HECKERT;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Heckert May 5, 1942 

